German Generals in the Italian Front

German generals in the Italian Front. From left to right: General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee), Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring (Oberbefehlshaber Südwest und Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe C), General der Panzertruppe Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin (Kommandierender General XIV. Panzerkorps), Generalleutnant Siegfried Westphal (Chef des Generalstabes Oberbefehlshaber Südwest), and Generalleutnant Wilhelm Raapke (Kommandeur 71. Infanterie-Division). The picture was taken in 1943-1944.

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2496507#p2496507

Friedrich Paulus and Alexander von Hartmann in Stalingrad

 

This picture was taken in the city of Stalingrad, at Ostrovsky Street near the department store, on 16 October 1942. From left to right: Generalmajor Alexander von Hartmann (Kommandeur 71. Infanterie-Division), Hauptmann Dr. Fritz Dobberkau (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 194 / 71.Infanterie-Division), General der Panzertruppe Friedrich Paulus (Oberbefehlshaber 6. Armee), and Oberst Johannes Schmidt (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 191 / 71.Infanterie-Division).

Friedrich Paulus and Alexander von Hartmann in Stalingrad.

Source :
https://gall.dcinside.com/board/view/?id=dcbest&no=35067
https://infoflotforum.ru/topic/37953-muzei-plenenija-pauljusa-v-stalingrade/#entry564623

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Alexander von Hartmann

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Generalmajor Alexander von Hartmann (Kommandeur 71. Infanterie-Division), which was held on October 8, 1942 in Stalingrad. The two generals who put the medal were Hartmann's two bosses, from left to right: General der Artillerie Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach (Kommandierender General LI. Armeekorps) and General der Panzertruppe Friedrich Paulus (Oberbefehlshaber 6. Armee). When his division (and all 6. Armee) could no longer escape from the Soviet siege around the city, Hartmann spoke to his officers calmly: "It is a great honor when an officer died in a battle. I will not kill myself, but I will sell my life dearly." He then took the rifle and headed for the embankment of the Stalingrad train located in the south. In front of the remaining members of his division (3 officers, 7 noncommissioned officers, and 183 soldiers), von Hartmann started firing at the Russian soldier who was invading ... while standing still! At 8:00 a.m. on January 26, 1943, he finally fell as he wished, shot right in the head. Also killed in the same day and in the same embankment were Oberstleutnant Kurt Corduan (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 191) and Major Bayerlein (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 211). Hartmann was promoted to General der Infanterie posthumously (he was promoted to Generalleutnant previously, on December 1942).

 

Source :
http://ww2images.blogspot.com/2020/06/ritterkreuz-award-ceremony-for.html

Bio of General der Infanterie Alexander von Hartmann

General der Infanterie Alexander von Hartmann

Born: 11 Dec 1890 in Berlin
Died: 26 Jan 1943 on Zariza Railway Embankment, Stalingrad (KIA)

Promotions:
Fähnrich (03 Mar 1910); Leutnant (20 Mar 1911); Oberleutnant (18 Jun 1915); Hauptmann (20 Jun 1918); Major (01 Apr 1931); Oberstleutnant (01 Aug 1934); Oberst (01 Jan 1937); Generalmajor (01 Jan 1941); Generalleutnant (01 Dec 1942); General der Infanterie (nachträglich) (15 Feb 1943)

Career:
Entered Army Service (03 Mar 1910)
Fähnrich in the 94th Infantry-Regiment (03 Mar 1910-02 Aug 1914)
In the Field as Platoon-Leader in the MG-Company of the 94th Infantry-Regiment (02 Aug 1914-14 Jul 1915)
Wounded (19 Nov 1914)
Wounded, in Hospital, later Leader of 1st MG-Replacement-Detachment, Kassel (14 Jul 1915-01 Dec 1916)
Transferred to the Adjutant's Office of the Prussian War Ministry (01 Dec 1916-01 Oct 1919)
Auxiliary-Officer in the RWM (01 Oct 1919-01 Oct 1921)
Company-Chief in the 17th Infantry-Regiment (01 Oct 1921-01 Nov 1925)
Hauptmann with the Staff of II. Battalion of the 7th Infantry-Regiment (01 Nov 1925-01 May 1926)
Company-Chief in the 7th Infantry-Regiment (01 May 1926-01 Apr 1931)
Major with the Staff of the Training-Battalion of the 7th Infantry-Regiment (01 Apr 1931-01 Oct 1933)
Liaison-Officer of the Army with the Reichsmarine-Service-Office Hamburg (01 Oct 1933-01 Oct 1934)
Commander of III. Battalion of Infantry-Regiment Osnabrück (01 Oct 1934-15 Oct 1935)
Commander of III. Battalion of the 37th Infantry-Regiment (15 Oct 1935-01 Feb 1937)
Commander of the 37th Infantry-Regiment (01 Feb 1937-24 Mar 1941)
Führer-Reserve (24 Mar 1941-28 Mar 1941)
Commander of the 71st Infantry-Division (28 Mar 1941-26 Jan 1943)
Killed-in-Action (26 Jan 1943)

Awards & Decorations
- Ritterkreuz: am 08.10.1942 als Generalmajor und Kommandeur der 71. Infanterie-Division
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Ritterkreuz II. Klasse des Grossherzoglich Sachsen-Weimarischen Hausordens der Wachsamkeit oder vom weissen Falken mit Schwertern
- Grossherzoglich Sachsen-Weimarisches Wilhelm Ernst-Kriegskreuz
- Ehrenkreuz IV. Klasse (I. Stufe) des Fürstl. Lippischen Hausordens
- k.u.k. Österr. Militär-Verdienstkreuz III. Klasse mit der Kriegsdekoration
- Türkischer Eiserner Halbmond
- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
- Spange zum EK I
- Spange zum EK II

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/03/daftar-general-der-infanterie-heer.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2367726#p2367726
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/50647795_alexander-von-hartmann#&gid=1&pid=1
http://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/General/HARTMANN_ALEXANDER.html
http://ww2images.blogspot.com/2020/06/ritterkreuz-award-ceremony-for.html

Walter Pape with His Comrades

 

 

Unteroffizier Walter pape with his comrades in the front during Unternehmen Barbarossa, summer 1941. He wears Ritterkreuz on his neck and the other medal on his left pocket is Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse. On the pocket is also Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, while in the second button he wears Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse ribbon. Walter Pape (20 November 1914 - 5 June 1989) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 7 March 1941 as Unteroffizier and Grüppenführer in 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie Regiment 211 / 71.Infanterie-Division.

 

Source :
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Pape,_Walter_(1914)
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=44093

The Death of Divisionskommandeur Alexander von Hartmann

 

Alexander von Hartmann (11 December 1890 – 26 January 1943) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, which he received on 8 October 1942 as Generalleutnant and commander of 71. Infanterie-Division. Hartmann was killed on 26 January 1943 during the Battle of Stalingrad and was posthumously promoted to General der Infanterie. When his division (and all 6. Armee) could no longer escape from the Soviet siege around the city, Hartmann spoke to his officers calmly: "It is a great honor when an officer died in a battle. I intend to go to my infantry in the front line.. I will not kill myself, but I will sell my life dearly. I will seek death among their ranks. Captivity for a general is dishonourable." He then took the rifle and headed for the embankment of the Stalingrad train located in the south. In front of the remaining members of his division (3 officers, 7 noncommissioned officers, and 183 soldiers), von Hartmann started firing with his rifle at the Russian soldiers who was invading ... while standing still! At 8:00 a.m. on January 26, 1943, he finally fell as he wished, shot right in the head. Also killed in the same day and in the same embankment were Oberstleutnant Kurt Corduan (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 191) and Major Bayerlein (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 211). Hartmann was promoted to General der Infanterie posthumously (he was promoted to Generalleutnant previously, on December 1942).

Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14230&p=2117269&
https://ww2images.blogspot.com/2020/06/ritterkreuz-award-ceremony-for.htmlhilit=alexander+von+hartmann#p2117269

Ritterkreuz Action of Alfred Germer

 

Alfred Germer (7 June 1914 - MIA 1 March 1945) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 26 May 1940 as Oberleutnant and Chef 1.Kompanie / Pionier-Bataillon 171 / 71.Infanterie-Division. The following wartime excerpt (dated 30 August 1940) describes why Germer received the Ritterkreuz: "Oberleutnant Alfred Germer used his reinforced Pionier Kompanie to storm and neutralize the enemy’s Armoured Fortress 505 (located near Villy). During this engagement he gave his Pionieren a good example of energetic and fearless devotion to duty. He executed his mission with surprisingly few casualties and was the first to enter into the armoured redoubt." The fortification mentioned in this article was known to the French as the “Ouvrage de La Ferté”. The aforementioned action took place on 18 May 1940.

Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/48005/Germer-Alfred.htm